Ulster County lawmakers pass resolution requiring legislators to serve on at least one appointed committee

KINGSTON >> Ulster County lawmakers adopted a resolution that would require county legislators to serve on committees to which they are appointed.

But the measure, approved in a 21-1 vote Tuesday by the Ulster County Legislature, is a much watered down version from the rules change first proposed earlier this year.

Minority Leader Ken Ronk in February had introduced a resolution requiring lawmakers to serve on the committees to which they are appointed by the body’s chairman after several Democratic lawmakers declined to serve on the committees they were assigned to by Legislature Chairman John Parete, a fellow Democrat.

Ronk said the measure, which would change the rules under which the Legislature functions, would keep individual county lawmakers from refusing to carry out their assigned duties.

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But the proposal met with resistance from other legislators, who initially defeated in committee, then when it came back to the full Legislature, sent it back to committee for more discussion.

The measure approved Tuesday, does require legislators to serve on one committee, but also provides lawmakers with the ability to “be excused” from serving on committees with the approval of the chairman.

Ronk’s original proposal, that “any and all appointments to standing committees made by the chairperson of the Legislature shall be accepted by every legislator regardless of their knowledge, experience, expertise, or interests,” was struck down in the final proposal.

Legislator David Donaldson, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said the rules change does nothing.

“This is much ado about nothing,” said Donaldson. “We spent hours and hours on nothing and nothing has changes, so I’ll be voting no on nothing.”

About the Author

Since 1990, Patricia Doxsey has been a reporter for the Freeman, covering politics, crime, and government affairs. Reach the author at pdoxsey@freemanonline.com
or follow Patricia on Twitter: @pattiatfreeman.